Neeraj Chopra, Ravi Dahiya in race for Khel Ratna

New Delhi, October 27

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India’s inspiring show at Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics reflected in unprecedented 11 recommendations for the Khel Ratna award today. The selection committee also named 35 athletes for Arjuna Award.

Champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who became the second Indian to win an individual Olympic gold, silver medal-winning wrestler Ravi Dahiya, bronze-winning boxer Lovlina Borgohain, hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, women’s cricket team Test captain Mithali Raj and footballer Sunil Chhetri were recommended for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award, country’s highest sporting honour.

All five gold medallists from Tokyo Paralympics — Avani Lekhara (shooting), Manish Narwal (shooting), Sumit Antil (athletics), Pramod Bhagat (badminton) and Krishna Nagar (badminton) — were also named for the award. The committee also recommended 35 athletes for the Arjuna Award.

Cricketer Shikhar Dhawan, para table tennis player Bhavina Patel, para shuttler Suhas Yathiraj and high jumper Nishad Kumar are among those selected for the Arjuna Award. All members of the Tokyo Olympics bronze medal winning men’s hockey team, who have not won the award previously, have also been recommended for the Arjuna recognition.

Women’s hockey team members Vandana Katariya and Monika, who were instrumental in the team’s brilliant performance at the Tokyo Olympics, Bhavani Devi, the first fencer from India to qualify for the Olympics, boxer Simranjit Kaur, wrestler Deepak Punia, pistol shooter Abhishek Verma, boxer Simranjit Kaur, kabaddi player Sandeep Narwal, women’s tennis player Ankita Raina are among others to get recommendation. — PTI

11 recommended

Lovlina Borgohain, PR Sreejesh, Mithali Raj, Sunil Chhetri, Avani Lekhara, Manish Narwal, Sumit Antil, Pramod Bhagat, Krishna Nagar